On Texans, is it better to have won, then lost, than never to have won at all?

Were I a Texans fan, I might be a little peeved that Bob McNair so often sounds proud of how terrible his team has been.

I know he says he isn’t happy that the team hasn’t won much, but he certainly isn’t as upset about it as most would be.

He wasn’t upset enough to get rid of an underperforming quarterback five years ago. (That set the franchise back a few years and cost him millions of dollars.)

He wasn’t upset enough after this season to fire an underperforming head coach. (That could set the franchise back another few years, or it could turn out to be a stroke of genius. Time will tell. Based on McNair’s record, which would you put money on?)

Anyway, sometimes McNair says things that defy logic. Part of it is he is still learning how to handle the media. Part of it is the Houston media’s soft coverage of him, which has allowed him to regularly say ridiculous things and face little ridicule.

Like telling Dale Robertson he wouldn’t want to be like Carolina or Jacksonville, teams that hit the NFL running but have been as bad as the Texans the last couple of years.

“Honestly, I wouldn’t want to be in a situation like Carolina or Jacksonville, whose early success was greater than what they’ve enjoyed recently,” McNair said.

He would not rather the Texans have at least made a run to the playoffs and perhaps had a good shot at a Super Bowl, but had slipped?

Would he rather they always have been as bad as they are? I guess so. That’s what he said.

Where is the logic in that?

Let’s break it down.

In its first nine years, Carolina won 64 games, made two playoff appearances, two conference championship games and went to a Super Bowl, which it lost on a late field goal.

Why would Bob want to have duplicated that? Houston is a better city and every game is sold out.

In its first nine years, Jacksonville won 73 games, made the playoffs four times and played in two conference championship games.

Why would Bob want to have duplicated that? Houston is a better city and every game is sold out.

In its first nine years, the Texans have won 55 games, made the playoffs ZERO times and have played in ZERO conference championship games. (They have played in three state championship games, going 1-2 against the Cowboys.)

Basically, what McNair is selling is he would not want to have won big and then not be that good right now. You know, like finish 6-10 or something. Oh wait, that was the Texans’ record this season.

Spare me the different expansion rules under which the teams entered the league. This isn’t about McNair saying he had a different set of circumstances with which to deal which made it tougher, it is his saying he would not want to be “in a situation like” those teams.

Am I reaching to conclude he has to mean he wouldn’t want to trade places with those franchise owners because they have not made as much money as he has?Maybe.

Three side notes:

1. Since Kubiak took over the Texans, the Jaguars have won more games, finished ahead of the Texans three times in five seasons and made the playoffs once.

2. Since Kubiak took over the Texans, the Panthers have the same record as Houston, with a 12-win season and a playoff appearance.

3. The Texans have sold out every game; the Panthers and Jaguars have not.

Why in the world would McNair not want to trade places on the football field with Jacksonville and Carolina? And even the financial point, if that is what McNair really meant, is particularly disappointing because we all know how the City of Houston compares to Jacksonville and Charlotte.

McNair wants his cake, wants to eat it too, and then rub the icing in somebody’s face.

Nothing wrong with that. That would be good for Texans’ fans. What McNair perhaps doesn’t get (and, for goodness sakes, I don’t see how he doesn’t see this) is it is impossible for winning to hurt his bottom line.

Hi Jerome, I appreciate you stating that the Houston media is too soft on the Owner. I think the coaches can be included in there…I thought John McClain worked for the Chronicle??? You pointed out that the texans have always sold out at games. McNair has made a fortune on the Texan Franchise. What the fans need to do is stop supporting mediocre football. This is a football town and there would be several potential buyers for this franchise. I read he would never sell this team in past articles from the Chronicle. Ok course he would Not, when you have fans that pay for this average team. Hopefully the fans will realize they are being sold by a great salesman.

Bob McNair is the dumbest man in sports when it comes to winning and creating excitement for his team’s fans.

Every time he opens his mouth, he makes himself look less informed and misguided than the time before.

Houston was thrilled to get an NFL team in 2002. Unfortunately, the team came with a bottom 3 owner. Name me a worse owner aside from Ralph Wilson in Buffalo and Ford in Detroit. Cleveland has been to the playoffs in the last 9 years, so that automatically puts their owner ahead of McNair.

I’ve been saying for a long time now it isn’t the players that has this franchise screwed. It is at the top. They have a horrible, clueless, useless owner. They have a middle of the pack if he is lucky coach who lacks leadership ability. They have a GM that is GM by title only and really has no power or sway in what happens with the franchise (he does have control over the coach, all player decisions are cleared through Gary, and his job is basically to scout and negotiate contracts). The organization is a train wreck. The worse part about the whole thing is the clueless fans that feel obligated to support the team “no matter what because that is what real fans do”, and they refuse to hold the franchise accountable for piss poor management. If more of the media would dislodge their lips from his butt maybe he’d be seen for the fraud that he has been. Instead they lightly bash the people he has hired without ever looking in his direction. If you think everyone he has hired has done a bad job, then hasn’t he by extension done a bad job? Isn’t management really all about taking credit for the performance of those working beneath your authority?

McNair thinking his franchise is better than the other two from a football perspective shows his lack of intelligence as a football person and it tells you the load of crap being put in his ear by those around him that he trust (yes men). I guess by his logic he’d rather have Tim Tebow than Manning. Tebow’s future is ahead of him. How many more titles can Manning possibly have in him?

1 point for Soloman 0 for bozo the clown bob mcnair) and his circus act (kubiak the great disappointer) (rick smith the delusional 1)..is he serious about what he said? cant be..i would do anything to see what it would feel like to even make a wildcard apperance..until his pockets start hurting which i doubt that will happen Mcnair will never see any urgency to win..how many other teams have sold out every game in there first 9 years of existance only to never make the playoff’s..until us fans show we mean business about our team i feel that this team will stay stuck in a limbo..i wish we could do some and inception to see what mcnair is really thinking while he sleeps in his river oak machine comfortable everynight1f

I don’t think the games will keep selling out for too much longer. I think Mcnair has made a huge mistake not getting a new coach who is a proven winner thus condemning Andre Johnson to never having a shot at a Superbowl unless he is traded soon, and that is sad! I am losing interest fast! What is the use of watching this team when u know they have no shot. Every team starts the season with the Superbowl being the ultimate goal. The Texans don’t seem to have that goal, because they don’t make any moves that would make u think they really have a shot at it, so we lose interest.

That soft media coverage is definatly not you or RJ, Jerome. It is that homer John Mcclain who tries to tell his readers everything is just peachy with the Texans. I have lost so much respect for John Mcclain as a writer is ridiculous, I don’t even click on his blogs anymore. Thanks Chronicle for having sportswriters with some guts like RJ and Jerome!

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I might not be as marshmalowy as the rest, but I am not asking to be excused from being part of the soft media culture in Houston. John has a different job description. He isn’t a columnist, so his job is to present interesting stories and news on the team, not give his opinion, though obviously he has to on occasion. It is unfair to call him a homer because most of his stories are written to give you news or inside information. Almost everything I write is opinion. A lot easier to be critical from my position.

Good post, I couldn’t agree with you more. I’m planning to sell my Prime Field Level PSLs this year because I have absolutely no confidence in McNair, Kubiak or Smith. McNair achieved great success in business, but for too long has tolerated incompetence among his head coaches and general managers. Thus, I can only conclude that McNair himself is incompetent when it comes to being an NFL owner.

Until fans stop leasing luxury boxes, buying tickets and otherwise supporting the team financially, McNair will make no meaningful changes.

Great post, but I got news for you, buddy. John McClain is the biggest homer in news today. It is a cop out to point to his job description. First of all, he ain’t exactly setting the world on fire with interesting stories about the Texans or the NFL. Worse than that, his stories are often so slanted that they feel like Texan front office propaganda. I am not going to waste time digging for links. There are plenty out there for anybody with a few minutes to kill.

The entire Chronicle staff has been pretty embarrassing as far as coverage of the Texans goes. You are not the worst. You have RJ going back and forth, constantly re-posting a reworked essay he probably got a B- on in third grade and then you have the General telling fans to stop complaining because the Texans are 4-2.

Sad state of affairs. You do a great job. But overall, Houston deserves a lot better. I think it is fair to say the last 9 years of Texans coverage have put a permanent dent in RJ’s and the General’s credibility.

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They don’t need me to defend their work, so I won’t. But if you keep up with John, yo won’t missmuch that happens with the Texans, and that’s his job. We all have people who like us and those that don’t. We bring different views to the table, which gives us comprehensive coverage. Everybody can’t bring the wood like I have been known to doon occasion, or we’d be charged with abuse. I kid, but if all we did was slam the tea and organization, how long would it be before you tired of that? OK, perhaps you wouldn’t, but many others would. lol

McNair is brilliant. Yes, I said it. Why? Cause Houston WAS a football town, so they have the heritage already. Jacksonville and Carolina had to build up that fan base. Houston was frothing at the mouth. So selling out the games wasn’t a hard sell. It’s actually McNair’s money to lose at this point.

I find it funny when people threaten to give up their tickets. How long is that wait list?

Even more interesting is that McNair has also marketed his cheerleaders to the point where they are the second biggest money maker in the NFL.

>Basically, what McNair is selling is he would not want to have won big and then not be that good right now. You know, like finish 6-10 or something. Oh wait, that was the Texans’ record this season. …Am I reaching to conclude he has to mean he wouldn’t want to trade places with those franchise owners because they have not made as much money as he has? -Posted by Jerome Solomon at February 2, 2011 08:46 AM

["John has a different job description. He isn't a columnist, so his job is to present interesting stories and news on the team, not give his opinion, though obviously he has to on occasion."]

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Jerome, I take your word as the truth in that regard and I don’t mean to make this into a series of comments on McClain but boy does John take an extremely consistent approach in biting his tongue instead of being too critical of Kubiak and this regime, either in writing or over the air.

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Also keep in mind, alion, that just because you and I might have a more critical opinion of someone’s job performane doesn’t make us right. (In this case we are, but that doesn’t mean a person who has a different opinion is a homer.)

As I wrote to your colleague’s blog when he brought up “McNair’s approach”; He (McNair) is what he is, and that apparently is a patient man who wants to BUILD an organization…for the long term. There it is. As your colleague pointed out those other two franchises were quick starters and lasted a few seasons. Now they’re on the ropes and have perhaps less upside than the Texans. These days, nine years without even the playoffs, is worse than no team at all. And so THAT is what it is (that attitude I mean). McNair does not seem to know the game/business from that “9-years-for-crying-out-loud” view. When he builds, it’s apparently like he re-built his business(s). As the other writer pointed out, he built a billion dollar biz, lost it, and built another. His lessons learned may just have transferred to NFL football biz. Hard pill to swallow for most these days, this “old fashioned”, patient, long-term way. When a culture tears down buildings only 20 yrs old ’cause they’re tedious, how can we accept 9 years without even a division championship? Your headline question still hangs out there, though you pretty much presented your answer. Which is better, to have won (fleeting recognition) and then lost IT…or never won at all? And here…”never” equates to “nine years for crying out loud”.

Hey, Jerome if you could come up with a reason why is it that the media is so soft of Mcnair. While we can blame the organization the majority of whats wrong with the Texans is due to the media accepting mediocrity and not calling it what it really is. Bob Mcnair brought football back to Houston but in reality he is not much better than Bud Adams just like Schaub is not much better than David Carr. Say what you want to about Bud but he knows the game a lot better than Mcnair, but we thought the grass would be greener on the other side if we didn’t build Adams a stadium. The only mistake Bud Adams made was drafting black quarterbacks in Houston and thats the honest truth its obvious he even drafted Vince Young when Houston wouldn’t take him so the proofs in the pudding. The media is soft on Schaub as well but when Moon threw interceptions he should be traded immediately and it was all his fault but Schaub is the answer because he puts up numbers Child Please.

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Human nature. Nice guys finish first, even in the media. Bob McNair is a very nice guy and will always get the benefit of the doubt. Matt Schaub is a very nice guy, and he is so mcuh better than Carr, that is laughable. Race has nothing to do with how Schaub is treated. It had something to do with how Moon was treated by some, but even in that you exaggerate. Yes, Adams knows more about football than McNair. He has been in the business 50 years. … And finally, don’t blame the media for the Texans losing. I have never hired a coach, drafted a player or called a play, so I know damn well you can’t blame me. Had they asked me what to do from Day 1 (starting with the drafting of Carr), I can guarantee you they wouldn’t be where they are now. They might not be a Super Bowl champion, but they wouldn’t be worse.

Great post. The underlying problem here is the assumption that, by “taking it slow” and “building for the future”, the Texans will suddenly morph into the Steelers, Patriots and Colts. The thinking is, “Once we get over the hump, we will be a dynasty in the NFL.”

The problem with that thinking is that, in the NFL, it only takes three, maybe four years for a team to turn around. If you’re not making progress after a few years, something is wrong.

McNair looks at the Steelers and thinks, “Hmm. They’ve never fired a coach. I’m going to give Kubiak as much time as he needs.”

That is specious logic at best. The Steelers would have fired Kubiak after year three. They have high standards, and don’t accept mediocrity.

Adding to this is the fear that Kubiak will get fired here and go somewhere else and take that team to the Super Bowl, like Belechik did. Again, faulty logic. Belechik likely had to get fired in order to improve as a coach.

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I make this point often … if Kubiak even dreamed about being as good in his five years with the Texans as Belichick was in his five years with Cleveland, he should wake up and apologize.

Jerome, you went from controversial to unanimous agreement. When in doubt, bash the Texans. In this case, it’s all warranted.

Hindsight is 20/20 and looking back… Bob McNair knows as much about football as anyone of us hacks that have to work a regular 8-5 and I’m convinced a lot less then many of those.

Let’s evaluate Exhibit A – Charlie Casserly admits to not knowing how to evaluate talent in the 3-4 defensive alighnment, especially outside backers. WHAT? You mean half the team and especially the most important position on half the team? Is it coincidence, Casserly’s only draft for the 4-3 was his best draft ever? What a STUPID STUPID move.

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Hey, I do know how to rally the troops. lol … But in this case, McNair made it pretty easy.

br. Ron – “As I wrote to your colleague’s blog when he brought up “McNair’s approach”; He (McNair) is what he is, and that apparently is a patient man who wants to BUILD an organization…for the long term… When he builds, it’s apparently like he re-built his business(s). As the other writer pointed out, he built a billion dollar biz, lost it, and built another. His lessons learned may just have transferred to NFL football biz. Hard pill to swallow for most these days, this “old fashioned”, patient, long-term way… Which is better, to have won (fleeting recognition) and then lost IT…or never won at all? And here…”never” equates to “nine years for crying out loud”.”

This isn’t basketball or baseball where you draft a guy a year or so removed from high school and let that individual or a few individuals grow and build around them for the next 15 years. The average career length in the NFL is something like 3 and a half years, as we are constantly reminded. How much longer do you expect Andre to be one of the best receivers in the league? Players don’t get younger, stronger, and faster. They do get wiser if they make it to that point. The only position that you can really look at from a long term perspective is a quarterback. There is no constant building that will set you up for decades of success. There is free agency, drafting, and retirement all set to strip teams of players they have and bring the players of the future to teams that weren’t as good as you. Every team is “building”. Every year that Cushing improves Andre is getting a year older and the cycle will continue.

When you have good/great players you surround them with other good/great players so that you can maximize the abilities of them all. You can’t “build through the draft slowly”. As you improve the picks get worse and worse, and you can’t count on hitting on every pick. That’d be like attempting to make a living playing slot machines every night. You have to be willing to bring in the coaches that can develop the talent you have in a short amount of time. You have to be willing to spend money and hit on your free agent acquisitions. Plus there has to be a little luck to get everything clicking at the same time.

So yes, in a field where the average career is 3.5 years 9 years is an eternity. How many players have come and gone in that time? Ask Kris Brown how long that was. Ask Chester Pitts how long that was. Ask Andre how long that is. Winning 6 games this year doesn’t mean you’ll win more the next; as the team found out when they finally won 9 games. Every year is a new year and none of your wins travel with you. In the NFL you build for now. Tomorrow isn’t promised to any player, the next hit could be their last.

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You are dead on Marcus. Though I will say that receivers, the really good and great ones, typically have much more staying power. I don’t think that takes anything away from your point at all, but I just wanted to point that out. Granted a major injury is only a play away for all NFL players, but Dre’ should have many more productive seasons. But as you said, the Texans have basically wasted several of his better years too.

As long as the games continue to be sold out, McNair is proven right every Sunday. You don’t have to spend money or hire top-notch coaches or worry about being competitive to make a nice profit, so why bother with any of that? From his point of view, it’s a wonderful, low-risk investment. The team’s performance has so far proven to be irrelevant to its profitability. I think that’s what he meant about Carolina and Jacksonville. Those owners have spent money, taken risks, and lost some playoff games, yet they are not more profitable than the Texans. So, ‘steady as she goes’ is the best business model. It sucks for the fans, but it’s a golden goose for McNair.

This is why Mediocrates lives in Houston. The sycophant fans swallow the provincial pudding served at Reliant and turn green every time the Dallas Cowboys are mentioned. The provincial mantra has always been, “Yeah but what did Dallas do?”. Dallas owns Houston!

I don’t know why these articles keep coming out. Isn’t it obvious that McNair has absolutely no clue on how to run a franchise and so far nothing that he’s done has worked?

He tried to follow the Panther’s model of success upon establishing the team – that failed.

He brought in Dan Reeves to help him out – Reeves helped him in deciding to get an inexperienced GM and an inexperienced head coach and try to win through building strictly through the draft – that failed.

He’s now under more scrutiny than ever before because in the past they weren’t expected to win, so he had no real expectations. Now that they’re expected to do better and haven’t, he’s being targeted and doesn’t know how to respond because (wait for it) – he has no experience running a team.

He brings in Wade Phillips, and if it still doesn’t work out, he’ll go back to the drawing board and try something else. One of these days he will finally figure it out, but that could be years from now.

Just like Kubiak and Smith, he’s learning on the job. Until he figures it out and does things the right way, we’ll have to be content with average to below-average teams.

Jerome-The difference between the Texans media & most others is comparable to it’s attitude of “nice guys may very well, some day, finish first”. The fans mindset follows this same trend in the form of “we’ll get ‘em next, next, maybe next year”. And the overall concept that this franchise, with this HC & GM, will someday, off in the distant future, get it right borders on the insane. Fans believing that a lack of fan based support for this team having any negative impact on the Texans performance on the field goes beyond absurdity. After 6-10 in 2010, 80% of the fans & posters on here wanted Kubiak & Smith gone. Did their protest have ANY impact whatsoever on the outcome? Hell no. And waving your pom-poms & pointing your foam fingers while supporting a losing effort, a bad football team & a poorly run NFL franchise won’t aid Kube’s Folly in winning more games. McNair’s 1st priority is return to the stockholders of which he is one. His commitment to winning is waaaay down the list.

I would like to see some clarification of what McNair was thinking. If he’s trying to say losing is better than winning, he needs to check into someplace and get some rest. Winning is always better, whether you won yesterday, last year, or ten years ago. But the most important win is the next one.

I think what McNair was trying to say was that the Texans are now better than they were, as opposed to being worse than they were. And they have improved on several things under Kubiak. League worst in pass blocking (sacks). League worst record. 30th in total offense. 26th in points per game. 31st in total defense. League worst in points allowed per game. This is what Gary Kubiak got when he signed on with the Houston Texans. He’s made some progress, but still has a lot of work to do.

As for building through the draft, it works. Know how many big $$ free agents the Green Bay Packers have? One, Charles Woodson. Granted, he is a pretty special player. But everybody else on that team was drafted or signed to a small deal and developed over time. Know how many big $$ free agents the Pittsburgh Steelers have? None. Of the 44 players starting in the Super Bowl, 36 are playing with the team that first signed them, either via draft or as a undrafteed free agent.

You said “Jeez, look at how much he has made running a losing franchise.”

Seriously, would he make much more if we won? i don’t think so. Guaranteed sellouts and the NFL’s profit-sharing scheme pretty much saturate the profit margin. Any monetary increase in concessions or souvenirs would be negligible, so he’s making about as much as he can, and he doesn’t have to pay for playoffs or anything.

Ask yourself this: How much interest did Uncle Bob have in football twelve years ago? How many games at any level – pro, college, high school, junior high, Pop Warner – has he attended? What high school or college team did McNair play for or support when he was that age?

After answering those questions, why would you think it would ever cross his mind to WANT to win?

@ Deadcoach, the reason the draft won’t work for th Texans like it did for the Steelers and Packers, is they have GM’s and scouts and coaches who know how to evaluate talent! No matter how many # 1′s we get, it would never work for the Texans cause our coaches, GM, and scouts don’t know what they’re doing!!

“Marcus” should send his latest to McNair; it sounds like the way an NFL franchise should work and with all the reasons well outlined. McNair sure needs to listen to someone, as his way seems in contrast to the reality. My post was just an observation on how the man might think in building/running a business, and applies same to his hobby; After nine seasons it does not appear to be working, to those who “know” NFL football. Not your typical business model as we can see…not for awhile now. Nine seasons to a patient man, does not seem to be too long, and he does have a “dynasty” or two to point to as examples of “building” (although an NFL “dynasty” might only last 9-10 years!). As in previous, this is all frustrating to the folks of today’s NFL culture (or culture period) but they might well see another 9-7 season sooner than later with the locals, getting them into the playoffs, and even the big game, “with a little luck”. Or if not, hope he tires of the hobby and sells to a realist. One can wonder at the gloomy pall there must be over Charlotte and Jacksonville in recent years. They once had it all.

Everytime McNair opens his mouth I lose a little more confidence in his ability to put together a winning franchise. How can someone with as much success as he’s had in the business world, sound so freakin stupid sometimes?

SERIOUSLY!?!? You’d rather never have experienced winning, than to have won then lost? Damn! At least Carolina and Jacksonville have had their moments. What has your franchise done Bob? If you haven’t been paying attention, which apparently you’re not…Not a dang thing in 9 seasons!

Concentrate on finding some talent for the defensive side of the ball and building a winner, and leave the spin doctoring to your PR people!

Everyone loves taking shots at McNair but let’s look at some facts. It takes time to develop a winning team and coach. Check out the first 5 years of these HOF Coaches. Chuck Noll’s first 5 years at Pittsburgh 33-36 regular season. Tom Landry 18-46-4 with Dallas his first 5 years. Bill Belichik 36-44 at Cleveland. Bill Walsh 34-39 at SF with ’82 strike year. Gary’s record is 37-43; more wins than any of them. see http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/ I think McNair might just know what he’s doing. I’d hate to see us develop Gary to have him go to another team and put up Belichik’s NE record. Noll, Landry and Walsh all developed as coaches and so did their teams into long term powerhouses. IMHO McNair is on the right path. This is a better team with Gary and will continue to get better now that Wade is on board.

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That is absurd. All of those coaches, aside from Belichick, were in a different NFL. On without free agency. One in which it was far more difficult for bad teams to turn things around. Belichick not only made the playoffs, but he had an 11-win season and won a playoff game in his first five years with the Browns. I know Belichick a little. Don’t make me go Lloyd Bentsen on a Kubiak-Belichick comparison.

Marcus knows what he is saying. apparently he has been listening to me every year for day after day or he just has a clue that our organization doesnt. Like many fans it seems they know what they want and usually voice it. Then the team does the opposite and it always ends up looking like a dumb decision. In hindsight they should have just went with the consensus decisions every single time. They finally followed through on changing the defensive coordinator about a year late and half a season short. Now the fans dont want anything except a coaching change also. They wanted a defensive coordinator while they could still win enough to make the playoffs. That didnt happen. The Schobel signing didnt happen and Mario eventually went down and Demeco. Fans wanted veterans in the backfield. That didnt happen and it came back to bite the Texans worst than anything. The fans wanted Mc Courty or Wilson. Well.. I guess some moron will argue with me over that even though its pretty much done now as a debate already. There was alot of steps missed. Why not go after Cowher? I was told by media members because it would “cost Bob too much to overhaul everything”. So he didnt and Bill didnt go anywhere else ironically or maybe even suspiciously after having being heard to want to come here specifically. I dont care what it costs Bob to overhaul his project for profits organization. Fans want winners. They dont care how much the owners make and never have in Houston. They care if you win and then they spend even more and sellout more games and concessions. This success right now is only fleeting if the wins dont eventually come. This is still the honeymoon sellout games period. A lockout would probably end that for sure for good until they win. As early as next year they may start to feel those repercussions. So how do you avoid that? Free agency. Drafting. Winning for every season. The future longterm building strategies are for franchises at rock bottom. The win now crowd is for teams who have some established players like Andre Johnson, Arian, Shaub, Mario, Demeco, Cushing to start to go for it. So far fans dont see them going for it in any of their moves. Maybe Bob had a delayed period of not knowing when was the right time to go for it in free agency? Maybe they didnt feel we are that close to keep building through the draft? The thing is? How can you ever be ready without winning at least once in your franchises history to attract players and allow those winning habots to develop?

This is not chicken before egg. You go after winning seasons if you can. Then worry about building for the future when the time comes again to do so. Every year consistant winning teams seek the big deals or players to do so.

“Right Track” Bob, Drayton McLame and the other Houston major league team owners have it figured out. In any large population there are enough delusional people, they call themselves TRUE FANS, that will pay absurd amounts of money to support mediocre teams. As long as the owners are making a profit it really does not matter if they win or lose. Houston’s population is large enough to support losing teams. Thus ends today’s business lesson.

Dead Coach – “As for building through the draft, it works. Know how many big $$ free agents the Green Bay Packers have? One, Charles Woodson. Granted, he is a pretty special player. But everybody else on that team was drafted or signed to a small deal and developed over time. Know how many big $$ free agents the Pittsburgh Steelers have? None. Of the 44 players starting in the Super Bowl, 36 are playing with the team that first signed them, either via draft or as a undrafteed free agent.”

Two issues. Who said anything about “big $$ free agents”? I said, “You have to be willing to spend money and hit on your free agent acquisitions.” Like you said, Woodson is pretty special, and he is a big part of what that team does. You can’t build a team through free agency, but you have to supplement what you haven’t been able to get in the draft through free agency. Every draft isn’t going to be deep at a position your team needs to fill. You can’t just wait around hoping you’ll be able to draft that position at another time. The pick may take time to develop or be a bust and that would just be more time wasted. The team has to be willing to make the moves that need to be made. The second issue is that those comments were in reference to building a dynasty. I don’t think this current version of the Packers qualifies. If the Steelers win they could be argued as a dynasty, but they have been an exemplary franchise nonetheless.

The Steelers are one of the best drafting teams in the league. Even with that they brought in key free agents that are starting on both sides of the ball. Both tackles (Jonathan Scott and Flozell Adams) were brought in through free agency. Also both James Farrior and Ryan Clark came through free agency. But when you have a team that hits that often on their draft picks you have to look at the coaching staff and look at what they have done to get those guys ready to play. Just about every player that gets drafted into the NFL can play. I’m convinced if Carr had been drafted by a successful franchise that put a quality line in front of him his career would’ve been completely different than what we saw here in Houston. With as much scouting and research that goes into scouting these players it is rare that a guy was able to fake talent. I believe that guys who fail to succeed either were failed by the coaching staffs and organizations or became distracted by the money and life style that goes along with being a pro athlete. The Steelers have a great defensive staff that puts their players in position to be successful. They’ve instilled an attitude and a culture into that team that gives all those players a pride in what they do. They know who they are and what they want to do and more times than not they go out and execute. No team is going to win every game but it is rare that I’ve watched a Steelers game and felt like they beat themselves or just didn’t show up on defense. That’s coaching and accountability.

Ah, so now it comes out (for one who did-not-see), and gone un-mentioned ’till now with these postings… the “fact” that we’re now in a “different” NFL than that of even 20 years ago. “Building” now is really “re-building”. “Consistancy” is a year to year, consistant re-newal; a start-anew-mentality; don’t look back, someone IS gaining on you. Boy, I only thought McNair might be “behind the times”. He really is a “throwback”… in “throw-out” times. I too, now stand re-newed.

I’d hate to see us develop Gary to have him go to another team and put up Belichik’s NE record.

This is the kind of scared, wussy outlook that keeps setting this franchise back. Look, Gary Kubiak is a nice guy, correct? I know you pro-Kubiaks can agree to that. Let him go and wish him the best. If you’re so pro nice guy, why would you hate to see him develop and be successful somewhere else? It hasn’t worked out! If you’re such a bleeding heart Kubiak lover, let him move on. Hopefully he’ll develop with a change of scenery. He’s got no chance here. Wait until next year – first time home team goes three and out, the stadium is gonna rain down BOO’s on his head just like they did David Carr. Get off your Kubiak Fantasy dreams. He’s got no chance here. If his shoes don’t match his shirt, people gonna boo his a–, it already began this year. He has NO support and neither does the team as long as Kubiak is roaming the sideline they gonna hear the BOOS too. Complete utter stupidity. Kubiak’s only chance, and this is Bob McNair’s doing is to come out 4-0, 5-1, 6-2 and cruise all the way into the playoffs. What on earth makes you think that’s gonna happen? Whatever it is, I want a prescription.

Here’s a better take: I’d hate to see him never develop and waste my damn time. Too late.

I can’t see such a dynamic businessman as Bob McNair being “satisfied with mediocrity.” HOWEVER…that doesn’t mean that he knows how to put together a winning football organization.We can only hope – and pray – that he learns, very quickly, how to do so. I would suggest that he begin by NOT listening to comments from other owners (“You’re on the right track, Bob! Just keep doing what you’re doing! Don’t change a thing!”) since they MIGHT not have his best interests at heart.

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You do hit on one point that to be fair must be made, and I forgot to make it. I don’t know that McNair is a genius, but I do know he isn’t so lost that he can’t figure out how to be a winning NFL owner. Slow in coming? Yes. Many mistakes in the making? Hell yeah. Doesn’t mean he won’t get there.

Chuck Noll’s first 5 years at Pittsburgh 33-36 regular season. Tom Landry 18-46-4 with Dallas his first 5 years. Bill Belichik 36-44 at Cleveland. Bill Walsh 34-39 at SF with ’82 strike year. Gary’s record is 37-43; more wins than any of them. see http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/ I think McNair might just know what he’s doing. I’d hate to see us develop Gary to have him go to another team and put up Belichik’s NE record. Noll, Landry and Walsh all developed as coaches and so did their teams into long term powerhouses. IMHO McNair is on the right path

Posted by: mdmh2o at February 2, 2011 11:05 PM

Again the Texan excuse making apologists must get paid by McNair to support nine years of losing and this pathetic management and franchise as evidenced by the post above. Taking the most obscure facts from another era in the NFL to support sticking with Kubiak/Smith and a culture of mediocrity and losing. The rocket scientist that wrote this garbage places Bill Walsh’s record from 1979-1982 a sub 500 record but does not mention the fact that San Francisco won the blanking Superbowl in 1981 beating Cincinnati the first time after they beat Dallas with the catch from Joe Montana in the NFC championship game. This glaring omission that Walsh led the 49ers to the World Championship Superbowl victory in 1981 during Walshs’ 34-39 sub 500 record stretch just destroys your idiotic point. Do some further research before posting!

Your just trying to get Gary fired! he is a great Coach! When Dallas first hired Tom Landry! they had five or six straight losing seasons and everyone wanted Tom landry’s head on the chopping block, but Clint Murchinson, The Owner at the time gave him a vote of confidence and rewarded him with a contract extension and the Cowboys never looked back and ended up with 20 straight winning seasons! Bob McNair knows what he has in Kubiak, and he is willing to be patient while his diamond in the rough is being Fashioned! Gary is a good Coach!

Apologies Marcus. I took “spend money and hit on your free agent acquisitions” as meaning spend big on free agents. Didn’t mean to put words in your mouth. I won’t get into whether the Packers or Steelers are better built – I think there is a game or something coming up that is supposed to settle that.

That said, I believe the Texans absolutely have to spend in free agency this offseason. They need veteran presence on defense to help their young players, especially as they learn a new system. If a talented vet is available, so much the better. But even veterans that might not be full time starters could help give this defense a direction and identity that has seemed to be lacking.

I have known several very successful business owners of at best “average” intelligence, but the one common denominator between them all was the ability to surround themselves with the best, brightest people available and then put them in positions to maximize their strengths. Sounds pretty simple, but….

That comment by McNair was ridiculous. The sad part is that he essentially called up the Chroncile (I assume) and wanted an article to improve his public perception. I was just happy to find out he’s aware of his public perception, until I read the article. Man, we’ve got all these people I want to like and respect and they make it so hard. I’m afraid his age is doing something to the intelligence that allowed him to become rich, or he really thinks we’re all idiots. Either one stinks.

This team needs to spend more in free agency than other teams to compensate for the poor decisions of the past, not to mention the pure bad luck we’ve had with injuries. I hope they realize this. We all assume they’re going to do SOMETHING in FA, just because they’re so bad right now. I’m not sold that they’ll do anything other than grab the 5th or 6th best corner and call it a success.

I’d still like to figure out why so manyof our players regress in their 2nd and 3rd years. If promising players like Slaton, Bennett, Okoye, and Jacoby would improve and develop like they’re supposed to, we’d have some veteran leadership. I hope Foster doesn’t disappear next year.

I think that McNair shows loyalty and gives his players and coaches a chance. Can you really complain because the guy has an old school honorable quality about him?

You are right, both Carolina and Jacksonville were break out teams in the beginning. So you’re saying you would rather be a fan of the team that crashed and burned.

It speaks volumes about the Texans organization and that even though they have not been the most successful on the field they still sell out every game. I would rather have a team people support through the bad and the good then a team people support when they are winners. Losers deserve love too!

McNair is a business man, so judge him as one. He has done one hell of a job building the Texans organization from the ground up and has made a lot of money doing it. The only people who ultimately can control who wins or loses is they guys in uniform. You win some, you lose some and some lose more than others. Go Texans!

You also forgot to compare the Texans to the Saints. If I am correct, it took them 20 years to make it to the playoffs? With McNair’s brilliant business sense, we still have 11 fighting years of packed stands to look forward too!

Dead Coach – “Apologies Marcus. I took “spend money and hit on your free agent acquisitions” as meaning spend big on free agents. Didn’t mean to put words in your mouth. … That said, I believe the Texans absolutely have to spend in free agency this offseason.”

No problem. I misinterpret things people say on here all the time. By the way, apologies br. ron; I get what you were saying now. But yeah, they have spent money in the past (not big $$) it was just bad or pointless acquisitions combined with poor coaching. Sometimes I can’t tell which is which. Would those acquisitions have been more successful under better leadership or were they just bad signings to began with? Guys like Weaver, Antonio Smith, and Reeves come to mind on the latter; Ahman Green and Chris Brown on the former.

We are in agreement though on them needing quality vets on that defense. Ryans is great, but he is one of those quiet lead by example kind of guys. Cushing is a guy you’d rather let zone out into his own place during a game rather than trying to get him to focus on leading others. They really don’t have that Ray Lewis kind of presence on this defense. Dunta was the closest they had to that and he is gone now. With the amount of youth on that defense they need a vet with a voice that can be respected. I think a guy like Champ Bailey would be great for this team and that secondary. I know you said you aren’t worried about a full time starter kind of guy, but there were moments in games this past year where they seemed like they got overwhelmed or deflated after certain plays and it took them a while to get their heads back (if they ever did). Having that guy out there with them that helps get them snapped out of it and focused on the next play would do wonders for this team. We’ll see what they do.

LOL @ the few comments defending McNair and trying to make excuses for Kubiak. Comparing Tom Landry to Gary Kubiak? Come on!!!

Your next article should be one entailing what a HEAD COACH is supposed to be and what his duties are. I laugh every time that I hear about what a great offensive coordinator Kubiak is and all he’s been needing is a good defensive coordinator. My understanding of a HEAD COACH was that he was involved in all aspects of the team and that the assistant coaches designed their gameplans according to his philosophies. Apparently the Texans, who are “doing things the right way” and “on the right track”, have an awesome plan in place to have Kubiak in charge of the offense and Phillips totally in charge of the defense. BRILLIANT!!!!!! Other teams are wasting money having a head coach. The two coordinator philosophy must be what “doing things the right way” and “on the right track” is all about.

My prediction is that the Texans do better next season playing a 3rd place schedule, miss the playoffs, bring Kubiak back citing the difficulty of switching from the 4-3 to 3-4, and extending Kubiak’s contract to not make him a lame duck coach next season. Once McNair gets a man-crush on someone, like he did with Carr, it’s just hard for him to quit him.

Would like to point out that men reason, children “SHOUT” and “ATTACK”. The numbers are facts. Comparing W/L records for periods of time are just that, Not necessarily an endorsement for any one coach, just an interesting FACT. One could argue that the smaller NFL had a bigger talent pool back then and built with the draft. It really doesn’t matter. Sad to see you feel you had to yell “ABSURD”…. and that others felt they had to attack also. I does give me a gauge though. Thank you for sharing. God Bless All-Ways!

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Pointing out the fallacy of an argument isn’t what I would call shouting or attacking. Even if said point is deemed to be absurd. And now you say that you werenot endorsing Kubiak? Did you read what you wrote? Sounded like an endorsement to me. Which wold be fine, but don’t try to back away from it because I called the comparison to others absurd. Don’t make me shout DATGUMMIT.

Your right, I am making an argument to keep Kubiak one more season. Am I disappointed as PSL 1280 about the past season. YES! I signed on for a PSL the first day one could because I missed Pro Football in Houston, I was an Oiler season ticket holder also. I sat through those 1-1_ seasons. Can’t even remember actual record now. Long of tooth and cancer survivor (for the one who call me a wussy) so maybe I over reacted to your post. The point I was trying to make is that I have seen the Texans become a better team the last 5 years. And no less an authority than Gil Brandt of Dallas and NFL.com fame has stated the same. Do I like losing no. But I would like to see what happens with a true Defensive Coordinator in place given the offense we have. If Kubiak doesn’t take us to the playoffs next year then fire him. I just remembered that Landry, Noll and Walsh didn’t exactly light up the league in their own first years and thought that maybe it would be interesting to note. It seems to me that everyone wanted their heads too. Yes, the NFL is different today, but Kubiak didn’t exactly inherit a true NFL team. Do I like losing–H… NO! Do I think their a better team today? Yes offensively, Defensively NO! But sometimes too much change can also backfire. I want the Texans to win NOW also. I also thought that Landry’s early year record was something to point out to the Dallas lovers. I wasn’t hiding Belichik’s playoff in Cleveland. I gave the site so you could look at all the records.

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Nothing wrong with any of your opinions. That is why many of us are here: to debate good sports topics. This is supposd to be fun. Even if we all think we are right, many of these debates don’t offer clear right-wrong sides, so don’t get the idea that your opinion isn’t wanted or respected, even if we strongly disagree. I am sure there are many things which I will take your side on a defend it just as strongly. … Now, back to ripping up today’s off-the-wall opinion. … While you point out coaches who started slowly, how about the coaches who didn’t start slowly. As in the host of coaches who were hired the year Kubiak was hired. I certainly wouldn’t short Kubiak for building the Texans from the garbage they were to where they are now. He deserves much credit for that. Of course, one could argue that the improvement is merely from curbside garbage to house trash. … Five years in the modern NFL is an eternity. The Texans had the No. 1 pick the year Kubiak took over. The teams that picked 2, 3, 4 and 5 have all made the playoffs at least twice since then. Worse, No. 2 pick won a Super Bowl. No. 3 pick won double digits games twice and had the best record in the league one season. No. 4 pick has played in consecutive AFC Champinship Games. No. 5 pick is playing in the Super Bowl on Sunday. Did those teams starts off with more than the Texans? I would say so, but they offer more of an apples-to-apples comparison than your look at the old NFL coaches. … One other point I would make to you, is the reason the Texans defense has been so bad is Kubiak has been the head coach. It has been his responsibility, and he has failed to improve that side of the ball.

mdmh2o, I get your opinion. You’re one of the few that still believe in Gary Kubiak. That’s fine. I don’t think you’re personally a wuss. I do think the fear of his success somewhere else is a wimpy position to take. Especially if you’re one of the people who think he’s a great guy. If you really think that, you should want him to be successful.

My position on the otherhand is simple. Gary Kubiak is a dead man walking in Houston. Do you know how many boo’s are gonna rain down on his head next year the minute he makes one mistake? Kubiak is not the only one that’ll hear it. Those boo’s hurt the players more then him. Like I said, unless they start off BIG and cruise into the playoffs…. Reliant Stadium is not gonna be a happy place to work. Bob McNair is only thinking about his personal relationship and sales. I’m beginning to think he believes it’s his job to battle or show-up disgusted fans. He mentions the fans and has gone against them too many times now to think otherwise at this point. None of that is gonna matter when Kubiak forgets to call a timeout, the offense goes 3 and out or the defense gets smoked. First time it happens…. the stadium will erupt in disgust. You watch. If that happens, the season is over before it ever began. Look at Dom Capers. He’s in a super bowl, who cares? Good for him. His success has zero to do with the hometeam’s failures. There is nothing to be scared about, cut him.

I know I could be wrong. We’ll see next year. Problem is there is zero shred of evidence the Texans are anywhere near the Patriots, Steelers, Jets, Ravens, Colts… they’re not even ahead of Jacksonville, Kansas City or San Diego. That’s what it comes down to. Steady improvement won’t get it done with Kubiak. Steady improvement might be ok with a new guy in the driver’s seat. For Kubiak, the Texans either come out whooping butt, taking names or the whole season is another wasted year for guys like Andre Johnson, DeMeco Ryans, Matt Schaub…. The fans will turn like you’ve never seen before.

I agree that Kubiak failed in his responsibility this year, but we also had some last second fluke losses. Yes, the defense was his responsibility and he should have taken action sooner. But I have to respectfully disagree with just using the apples-to-apples only comparison, if only, because the longer I live (remember a little long of tooth) I can’t just discard my earlier life years and say they had no meaning or I haven’t learned some valuable lessons from them. BTW, I read your column before any other in the Chron and usually like your position. And Cowboy, don’t be bringing in a Saint to support your position. She’d probably give you a bar of soap to wash out that mouth of yours.

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Which brings me to the biggest issue I have with your points. Anything that invites Cowboy to join the discussion has to be shot down with passion.

Of those coaches mentioned who “built” or turned- it-around after a fair number of losing seasons, Walsh seems the only one with a championship season amidst the losing ones; excepting Belichek who you indicate is of a more modern (?) era. They all put it together later with regular winners. Landry sticks out (if the records posted here are accurate) as one given the longest time (or took the longest) to build Dallas into a winner, and he was let go by a “new era”(?) owner. Belicheck, more recent, would seem to stick out in that he had a champion team going, and lost it, somehow in Cleveland. The fact that there was no free-agency and it “took longer to turn things around (read: “build”)”, would seem to indicate much patience was required by the owners, not to mention the fans, who we might say “stuck with their teams through thick’n…” The more recent version of the game (when exactly did it begin?) from that read here, would seem to say that free agency brought about a new urgency (based on the new capability of acquiring good players very quickly) to get a winner on the field. The urgency coming from (same?) owners and large numbers of fans. Did not at the same time, the same free agency make it possible not to keep some of the good players already in the fold? Not a wash if management juggles it right to stay ahead, one supposes. All very enlightening if one understands this “old era” vs. “new era” thing. Houston regained NFL football after a 5 yr drought, but apparently by way of a business building, inexperienced, football fan still watching the game from his seat in the ’80′s. How unfortunate for us all.

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There is a lot there, and obviously, there are many, many factors involved in team building. One day I’ll do an entry on where the significant lines are drawn between the past and present. The key point with new versus old in this discussion is the introduction of free agency (1989) and the salary cap (1994), which meant teams couldn’t hold onto their best players forever as they could in the old days, or build as much depth by keeping as many starting-quality players. … But let me give you a couple differences between then and now, when it comes to what Landry was dealing with compared to Kubiak. Landry was the coach for an expansion team, the NFL’s first modern expansion team, I believe. The Cowboys didn’t even get to draft college players for their first season. As you might imagine, they didn’t win a game. What did that get them the next year? Not even the No. 1 pick, as the Vikings were awarded that for their expansion year. I think Dallas had the 12th pick or something, though they spent it wisely on Bob Lilly. Not to mention, the NFL was then competing with the AFL, so the pool of top players was even more diluted. And if I remember, Landry was given a 10-year contract after his third or fourth season, something that is unheard of today. Just a diferent world. Kubiak won six games with David Carr at quarterback and Ron Dayne in the backfield. And he won six games with Matt Schaub at quarterback and Arian Foster in the backfield. Landry won zero games with a ragged team in his first year, won 10 in year 7 and never looked back.

King – agree. McNair appears to be satisfied with his bottom-line. He is, by most accounts, a smart businessman and a nice person. as a svvy businessman, he must know that winning, getting into the playoffs – and winning some there too – will make his product even more valuablable. That’s why I find his lack of aggressiveness with his coaching staff so puzzling. Maybe that is changing. I do believe the Wade Phillips hire is a good move that will make the Texans better next year.

Better could mean the playoffs. This would be good news for all. It does NOT mean that Gary K is a better coach or the right guy for this job. It means that he’ll get a lot of credit that he doesn’t desereve. But hey – that happens in all walks of life. Some people succeed in spite of themselves.

So here’s to success! May Gary K be a SB winning coach for the Texans for many years to come.

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I like the Game, Set, Match satiric response. You may want to use – Mission Accomplished! – periodically too. That one really gets under some people’s skin.

Once more: “…never to have won at all”…is of course a play on the famous “…never to have loved at all”. Both are allied however, in the finality of the word “never” and both reflect the finality of an end to life (a person, or here a franchise). Do not believe we are at the end of the life of the Texans yet…unless someone here knows something about their eminent future.

* McNair’s biggest problem is Kubiak and his sidekick Rick. Both of them have been blowing smoke up his “you know what” regarding expectations and results….for years. Proof? Third biggest payroll in the NFL. So McNair was forking out the Dollars and Kubiak & co were only offering more promises and excuses. And Kubiak knows he cannot deliver but there is nothing wrong with collecting his fat paycheck at the expense of McNair, the franchise and the Houston public.

*The players are all 100% supporting Kubiak. Why? It cannot be their record. Could it be that Kubiak told them that a new strong arm coach is probably going to kick some of them in the behind and end their careers and their fat paychecks and that he protects them? You bet!

*Rick and Kubiak need to turn over a substantial portion of their paychecks to Andre Johnson for carrying the team several seasons and making them save face and look better than what they are.

* So my issue with McNair is that he is not holding them accountable …and makes us suffer thru it. What on earth moved him to give Kubiak an extension? Can’t blame McNair for being stingy. He spent the money. Coach and GM did not deliver.

Sorry sports fans, but the 2010 Texans did NOT lose any games due to any FLUKES of any kind. They were either playing from behind or trying to break a tie in OT. At no time were they in a position to win. Matt Schaub’s ‘quick-pick-6′ was a bad read & forced throw. No fluke, all Schaub. He stated, “I just run the play THEY call”. Cop out! The Hail Mary was no fluke either. As Kubes stated after the OT loss, “When a player is in THAT position, we train them to CATCH the ball”. So you see, there were no fluke plays or bad breaks for these Texans. They were bad enough in all 3 phases of the game to place last. Now I guess some folks will split hairs & try & defend these hapless pros by stating we tied for last place or some other excuse for 9 years of bad ball & counting.

“What McNair perhaps doesn’t get (and, for goodness sakes, I don’t see how he doesn’t see this) is it is impossible for winning to hurt his bottom line.”

errrr, you’re incorrect… it takes a few pricey FA acquisitions to win; in which, hurts Bob’s financial bottom line. If we don’t sign nnamdi or champ this off season (which means over paying… to lure them to this great franchise) we’ll know nothing has really changed. heck, i’d even put lamarr woodley or david harris in that same mix.

Actually, McNair made sense. What he meant, I think, was that the early success of those franchises on the field created fan expectations that were unreasonable, and led to the attendance problems they are now encountering. Not a silly position at all–IF his early years of guaranteed attendance have in fact been used to build an organization that will be a consistent winner. We’d better start seeing some evidence of that next fall.

How about a story on how the Texan’s defense compares to the Texan’s expansion year defense ? I keep reading that nobody wants to ‘start over.’ But with some of the enormous salaries on defense, I believe a defense of “role” players could out-perform what the Texans now have.

I agree Drew, Kubiak and Rick “blew alot of smoke up McNair’s you know what.” However, the NFL Owners took-the-cake, in which they endorsed Kubiak in being a top caliber coach and ultimately convinced McNair to keep Kubiak.

Another interesting read, thank you. How about, (you like that don’t you, another suggestion) someone at the Chron, breaking down the “bottom line” and coming up with what McNair may have made if the Texans had made playoffs or the Superbowl?

I for one would be interested, this team is killing me, or at least killing my interest in football. Here it is Superbowl Sunday and I really don’t care…. not because the Texans aren’t in it, or weren’t in the hunt, but because it reminds me exactly where we are. This team, starting with the top, minus five players, SUCKS!

But hey, you know that, and I am not sure if it is true… might be “minus four players”.

In regards to the article, your dead on in wondering what sort of logic motivated those statements. If the Texans ever had the success Carolina or Jacksonville has enjoyed, the fan base would be even larger and more enthusiastic (though not buying more tickets, bottom line here). But speaking as a younger fan who never really knew much about the Oilers, the Texans are the only NFL home team I’ve ever followed year after year. And as time is going on, the incompetence (from my vantage) points more and more to Mr. McNair.

The guys rich, and he earned his fortune. Great. But that doesn’t automatically translate into football personnel IQ. McNair is the one putting his foot in his mouth more often than not (though Smith seems to be a ghost). McNair is the one standing by his rotten product. And McNair is the one who seems to really think the franchise is on the right track. For someone who had to have a basic understanding of numbers to succeed in business he willfully ignores the only one that really matters in the NFL in wins/losses.

What scares me the most at this point is the Texans sneaking in the playoffs next year. If that should happen, I would wager that McNair will react like a teenage boy getting past first base for the first time and give everyone big contract extensions.

The ‘maroons’ that give this imbecile (McNair) their money when attending his Sunday ‘clown shows’ are the real culprits here. By enabling this pitiful, 9+ year exercise of ridiculous futility through their patronage, they prevent any impetus of correction from the Emperor Bob who wears no clothes. Why should he put any on when he doesn’t have to? To the contray, all of the ‘maroons’ giving him their monies tell him w/every dollar spent that his duds are the greatest. Too many have ‘accepted’ sub-mediocrity from this sub-mediocre outfit and have done so at the altar of ‘we’re just glad to have a football team again.’ Not me. I wish I had never heard the name of Bob McNair or this travesty of a franchise..

Dak – “What scares me the most at this point is the Texans sneaking in the playoffs next year. If that should happen, I would wager that McNair will react like a teenage boy getting past first base for the first time and give everyone big contract extensions.”

We’re on the same page Dak. I was concerned about that this season. Gary was doing a crappy job but the team was 4-2 so everyone was basically writing off his poor performance as a coach and the team’s horrible performance as a defensive unit. How horrible a job he did is even more telling when you look at it in the light of the team starting 4-2 yet only being able to manage 6 wins on the season. Pathetic. What more does the guy have to prove at this point?

Just about every team has a lucky seasons here and there (exclude the Lions). The Cardinals even managed to make it to a Super Bowl. The schedule can just break right for you some times. That doesn’t mean he is a good coach or that he has the team on the right track. Just as his luck 9-7 season proved (a season in which the team should’ve had 11 wins at least). McNair is looking for any sliver of light to call progress and if Gary can poor a drop of cool aid into a bucket of piss he’ll call it fine wine and try to get the fans to drink it.